Training key factor in life-saving

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo -- It started out as a normal day but quickly turned into a day that would change their lives.
Maj. Rhanda Brockington, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital family nurse practitioner, was at a local restaurant with a friend and colleague, when three men carried in an unconscious, unresponsive female.
"One of the men said 'this lady isn't breathing, someone needs to do something,'" said Maj. S L Simpson, 3-383 Transportation Support Battalion executive officer, who was also at the scene.
According to Simpson, everyone was looking around for someone to help.
"I offered assistance because it was obvious the public was expecting Soldiers in uniform to respond. The situation unfolded so fast we just had to take action," he said.
Brockington's training kicked in and she began performing chest compressions and rescue breathing while Simpson helped secure the scene.
"I didn't hesitate and my instincts immediately sprang into action as I observed the unconscious woman being carried into the restaurant," said Brockington.
Brockington continued CPR until medical and law enforcement arrived. The woman's oxygen saturation was extremely low when Brockington began CPR. It eventually rose to 97 percent.
A thousand thoughts can cross a person's mind when deciding to take action and Brockington was no different.
"How can I save this woman's life, what measures should I take to restore her life? To be honest the fear of catching a transmittable disease while performing rescue breathing did briefly cross my mind, but importance of saving a human life outweighed these petty thoughts," she said.
Looking back at the life she helped save that day, Brockington thanks God for placing her at that restaurant.